Review SWOON AT YOUR OWN RISK by Sydney Salter

SWOON AT YOUR OWN RISK
by Sydney Salter
Published April 5, 2010 by Graphia

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:
It’s the summer before senior year and Polly Martin has sworn off boys. Who needs the hurt and confusion? Five recent breakups have left her with an unnatural knowledge of NASCAR, the ultimate hiker’s outfit, a student council position, the sixth highest score on the Donkey Kong machine at the mall, and a summer job at Wild Waves with ex #2 Sawyer Holmes.

Success seems a sure thing when Polly’s grandmother, the syndicated advice columnist, Miss Swoon, moves in for the summer. Polly almost doesn’t mind sharing a room with her little sister, Grace. Think of all the great advice she’ll get!
Everything is going according to plan except... Miss Swoon turns out to be a man-crazy septuagenarian! And then there’s Xander Cooper. If only he wouldn’t keep showing up at Wild Waves with his adorable cousins every afternoon — and what is he writing in that little notebook?

No advice column in the world can prepare Polly for the lessons she learns when she goes on a group camping trip (with three too many ex-boyfriends). Polly is forced to see people for who they are — a blend of good and bad qualities that can’t be reduced to a list or a snappy answer in a Miss Swoon column.

Review:
None of the summaries I have read about this book really prepared me for it. The camping trip is a short part of the story, although some pivotal things happen there, it isn't what the story is about.

Polly's world is realistic. Rooted in a home torn apart by divorce, mis-communications with her mother, feeling abandoned by her father, and dealing with teenage hormones and social status. In the end SWOON AT YOUR OWN RISK was a touching story of Polly's journey to learning who she is, and that she is worthy of being loved.

Slow in the beginning, I suggest you keep reading and give this book a try. Polly's seemingly shallow life is revealed in bits and pieces and I came to love her character and really feel for her.

*On another note:
We reached 100 followers this last week! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I am constantly amazed that people care to read what I (and my co-bloggers, I can't forget them!) think about the books we are reading. A HUGE thanks to everyone who has been part of that! I am thinking of what to do to celebrate this, so I will let you know soon!